Already a difficult month in the go-fast powerboating world with the cancellation of the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run in Upstate New York and Louisiana’s Tickfaw 200 Poker Run, both of which also were scrapped in 2020, March continues to deal out challenges to large-event organizers. The most recent of these came last night when Desert Storm Poker Run organizer Christina Nichols announced via Facebook live that Lake Havasu City, Ariz., currently will not grant a permit for her April 21-25 event to use McCulloch Boulevard for the popular Thursday night Desert Storm Street Party.

Unless circumstances in Lake Havasu City change, the Desert Storm Poker Run Street Party will move from its longtime McCulloch Boulevard location (above) to Sara Park. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp copyright J Helmkamp Photos.

At issue are current state, county and city COVID-19 social distancing restrictions and guideliines.

“Right now, the City Manager is telling us it’s not possible to use McCulloch Boulevard,” she said.

But Nichols and company have a plan approved to relocate the display of high-performance powerboats, trucks, ATVs and more to Sara Park, which is approximately five miles south of downtown Lake Havasu City. The organizer said she still sees the new venue as a “back-up” plan for the exhibit and celebration, which has grown to be one of the strongest elements of the annual Desert Storm event.

“We are still hopeful that the city will release McCulloch to us, but in the meantime we are working on logistics for the Sara Park location,” she said. “Is it our first choice? Absolutely not. But we have exhausted all other options. It’s something we can make work, and when you have no other options you do what it takes.

“And if, at the drop of a hat on April 1, the city calls and approves us (for the McCulloch Boulevard location) we can pick up and move, no problem,” she added.

Speedonthewater.com will update this story as it develops.

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